Box Score

In its final game of the 2010-11 season, the New York University women's basketball team dropped a 57-54 decision to visiting Brandeis University on Saturday, February 26, at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.

The Violets (12-13, 6-8 UAA) erased a 14-point first-half deficit when Kelly Loughney hit two free throws with 3:46 left in the contest. It turned out to be their only lead, as the Judges' Mia DePalo followed with a three-pointer and Brandeis (12-13, 4-10) held on for the victory.

Things got off to a rocky start for NYU, as Brandeis scored the first four points of the game and led 37-23 late in the first half before settling for a 37-25 advantage at the break..

The Violets scored the first eight points of the second half, however, cutting their deficit to four.

Brandeis re-opened an eight-point lead, 43-35, on Courtney Ness' free throw with 14:11 remaining.

However, NYU's 14-5 run capped by Loughney's free throws gave the Violets their short-lived lead.

After falling behind by six, the Violets made a final push down the stretch. Chelsea Blake's driving layup and foul shot with 24 ticks remaining made the score 56-54.

After Ness hit a foul shot with 21 seconds left, NYU had several opportunities to tie the score. Bianca Storts' three-point attempt was blocked by Amber Strodthoff with seven seconds left, and Maggie Ely's potential game-tying attempt prior to the final buzzer fell short from the left corner.

Blake finished with 11 points and a game-high eight assists. The senior, who was honored before the game along with classmates Storts and Chrissy Kilmurray, ended the season with 123 assists, the second-highest total in team history and only three short of the single-season record set by Dari Magyar in 2001-02.

Loughney finished with team highs of 14 points and eight rebounds, while Storts contributed 12 points.

The Violets shot 9-12 from the foul line and finished the season at 79.9% (223-279) in University Athletic Association games, setting an Association record. Cara Bonito, who did not attempt a free throw on Saturday, finished the season at 87.0% (40-46), the second-best single-season percentage in NYU team history.

Strodthoff led Brandeis with 17 points, while DePalo added 15 points and eight rebounds.

The loss was the third straight for NYU, which finished with its first losing record since going 7-16 in 1982-83.
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